“It’s been a while. We should invite them for the wedding.”
Valentine nodded. “I certainly hope they will come but it depends on Hawke’s schedule.”
Julia lifted her glass to her lips but didn’t sip. “Marriage changes people.”
She swallowed quickly, a sure sign of nervousness.
“It doesn’t have to with us.” He took her glass and set it back on the table. “I like you as you are, Julia. I don’t want you to be anyone but yourself.”
“Do you really mean that?”
He nodded and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. “Well, there are two things I’d have different: your name, and for your bed to be closer to mine—the very one in fact, so we could stop sneaking around and talk like this all the time.”
He leaned back as she sucked in a sharp breath. Perhaps that was a little too blunt but with Julia, he thought he should be able to share his hopes for their life together. “Marriage means different things to different couples. My parents are not happy together. My father married my mother for her money. They are not in love. They do not share a bedchamber, hardly ever the same drawing room. I don’t want that for us.”
Julia touched his hand, her expression concerned. “My parents were happy.”
“I remember them well. The way your father adored your mother was something to admire.”
Julia glanced down at her empty fingers. “Neither one of my parents would have dared misbehave like this though. I’m not much like them.”
“I’m not either.” He traced the edge of her jaw to her full lower lip with the tip of his finger. “Not with you. When I’m with you, I’m filled with any number of inappropriate thoughts.”
Her face flushed. “Such as?”
“Are you wearing trousers again? How long are your legs?” He grinned. “Can I steal another kiss? Or more?”
“More?”
He touched her cheek, brushing his thumb over the burning crest. Her breath was fast and her eyes glowed with something he dared hope was desire. “Everything. I want to share everything of myself with you.”
“I’d like that too.” She turned and sought his mouth. He held her to the kiss, deepening it when she fell against his chest, her arms twining around his neck. This was no stolen moment but the beginning of their life together. He held her close, loving her strength, her ea
gerness for new experiences. Her reaction told him everything he’d always known deep down.
He’d made the right choice to marry her because he loved everything about her.
He loved Julia’s wildness. He didn’t ever want to see her tamed.
He cupped her rear with both hands but Julia captured his wrists and pushed them aside. “Not so fast, sir.”
He stared at her a moment then pushed back. She fought to hold her ground and in the struggle, he slipped beneath her on the settee. He took in his predicament and then grinned widely. She was half on top of him, which had not been his original intention, but aligned with his hopes for the future. “Not that I don’t love tussling with you but now you have me, what are you going to do with me, my dear?”
She appeared startled, and her hands flexed around her wrists. “I don’t know.”
She shifted, moving her lithe body flush against his. The pose provoked him and, unable to resist, he lifted his hips and brushed against her sex with his growing arousal. “We could wrestle all night if you want.”
“Wrestle?” Her lips parted, and when he did it again with clearer intent, she gasped.
“I don’t need to be on top if you’d prefer the honor.” He lifted his head to claim a quick kiss. “Do you remember the other day when I was teaching you to defend yourself? I had my arms around you so tightly. I wanted to kiss you then. Did resisting me excite you?”
She sat up quickly and nodded. “But that’s wrong. If we’re to be married then I shouldn’t fight with you.”
“If we are to be married, we can do anything we like with each other.” He sat up and captured her lips. “Any way we like. Any time of day or night.”
He got to his knees beside the settee. He caught one wrist and then the other in a light grip, but his intent was there for her to see. When he tried to move her hands, she denied him. “I love how strong you are,” he whispered. “When you resist it excites me.”
Julia swallowed.